Travel Tips: Where to Camp for Thanksgiving

Tired of stressing during the holidays? Hosting or attending a family Thanksgiving can be a big hassle. Instead of putting yourself through the trouble of cooking a 20-lb turkey while entertaining your in-laws, try packing up the RV and hitting the road to one of these top-notch campgrounds.

Yosemite National Park– If you’d rather enjoy someone else’s cooking this Thanksgiving, head to Yosemite National Park in California. This gorgeous destination offers three Thanksgiving day meals prepared by their professional chefs. Campers can enjoy a classic Thanksgiving meal at the Wawona Dining Room, a casual meal at the Mountain Room at Yosemite Lodge, or an organic, locally-produced meal at the Ahwanee Dining Room.

The Mountain Room Restaurant

South Padre Island KOA– If potluck dinners are more your style, the South Padre Island KOA in Texas is a great destination for your Thanksgiving retreat. This RV resort is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and warm sunshine, so they tend to get pretty busy around the holidays. All guests of the resort are welcome to attend the Thanksgiving potluck dinner and bring a dish of their own to share with fellow campers. The park provides turkey and gravy, ham, potatoes, and stuffing for all the guests. South Padre also holds an annual Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve brunch, so you may want to plan for a long stay.

The famous KOA pier

Emerald Desert RV Resort– If you plan to head west this Thanksgiving, Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert, California will give you an unforgettable holiday experience. This sunny campground starts their Thanksgiving celebrations on Wednesday, November 23rd with a casual social for all resort guests. The social includes hors d’ouevres and beverages. Emerald Desert also opts for the potluck style meal on Thanksgiving Day, which includes turkey, stuffing and potatoes, along with any dishes brought by guests. After you’ve had a night to recover from the feast, the resort will provide a Black Friday post to nearby shops.

Highlands Hammock State Park– Not every campground offers a Thanksgiving meal, but that doesn’t mean you should rule them out. Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida is an excellent choice to burn off all those extra calories we tend to consume during the holidays. This expansive park hosts an annual 5k Turkey Trot, where over 600 participants run or walk through miles or historic swamps and Florida wildlife.